Metamaterials
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsDavid R. Smith, David Schurig, Anthony F. Starr, Jack J. Mock
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Abstract
One exemplary metamaterial is formed from a plurality of individual unit cells, at least a portion of which have a different permeability than others. The plurality of individual unit cells are arranged to provide a metamaterial having a gradient index along at least one axis. Such metamaterials can be used to form lenses, for example.
Claims54
An electromagnetic apparatus, comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having respective adjustable individual responses, the plurality of respective adjustable individual responses providing one or more adjustable effective medium parameters that are spatially varying and that include an adjustable effective permittivity;
- and,
- wherein at least some of the respective adjustable individual responses are adjustable in response to one or more external inputs.
An electromagnetic apparatus, comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having respective adjustable individual responses, the plurality of respective adjustable individual responses providing one or more adjustable effective medium parameters that are spatially varying and that include an adjustable effective permeability;
- and,
- wherein at least some of the respective adjustable individual responses are adjustable in response to one or more external inputs.
An electromagnetic apparatus comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having respective adjustable individual responses, the plurality of respective adjustable individual responses providing one or more adjustable effective medium parameters that are spatially varying and that include an adjustable effective refractive index;
- wherein at least some of the respective adjustable individual responses are adjustable in response to one or more external inputs.
An electromagnetic apparatus, comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having respective adjustable individual responses, the plurality of respective adjustable individual responses providing one or more adjustable effective medium parameters that are spatially varying and that include an adjustable effective wave impedance;
- and,
- wherein at least some of the respective adjustable individual responses are adjustable in response to one or more external inputs.
An electromagnetic apparatus, comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having a plurality of individual responses, the plurality of individual responses providing an averaged electromagnetic response at a first frequency;
- wherein one or more of the elements contain one or more active devices arranged to receive one or more signal inputs, the one or more signal inputs having a high impedance at the first frequency and a low impedance at a second frequency substantially less than the first frequency.
An electromagnetic apparatus, comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having a plurality of individual responses, the plurality of individual responses being configured to define an averaged electromagnetic response that varies as a function of position within the composite structure;
- where one or more of the elements contain discrete circuit components.
An electromagnetic apparatus comprising:
- a composite structure that includes a plurality of elements having a plurality of individual responses, the plurality of individual responses providing effective medium parameters of the composite structure, the plurality of individual responses characterized by respective resonance frequencies;
- wherein at least one of the elements has an adjustable capacitance, the adjustable capacitance being adjustable in response to one or more external inputs and providing a correspondingly adjustable resonance frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.